Word Origin & History

sprawl O.E. spreawlian "move convulsively," with cognates in the Scand. languages and N.Fris. spraweli, probably ult. from PIE base *sper- "to strew" (see sprout). Meaning "to spread or stretch in a careless manner" is attested from 1540s; of things, from 1745. The noun is first attested 1719; meaning "straggling expansion of built-up districts into surrounding countryside" is from 1955.

Example Sentences for sprawl

By a judicious use of the curb rein, you collect a tired horse; tired horses are inclined to sprawl about.

Once aboard, he fell in a sprawl on the boat's bottom, breathing heavily.

Never allow plants of slender habit to sprawl all over the ground.

They wander about and sprawl in the shade of fine old trees.

The sprawl of its writing was uncouth enough, but not illegible.

Losing all sense of caution, he would begin to sprawl upon the ice.

It is a case of "united we stand, divided we sprawl," as Roy Blakeley was fond of saying.

Sprawl took a long squint first, and then handed the glass to me.

Look there, Sprawl—there—by Heaven what can this mean—do you really see nothing there?